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Minister of Finance, Dr. the Hon. Peter Phillips, says that reducing the effects of natural disasters is critical to the country’s economic programme, based on the significant impact of loss and damages on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). He said data from the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) indicates that damage associated with hurricanes, floods and droughts has cost the...

Jamaica has received a grant of $850 million (US$10 million) from the Adaptation Fund Board for the establishment of a Climate Change Adaptation Programme. The programme will seek to introduce measures to protect livelihoods and food security in communities that are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This was disclosed by Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Minister,...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, said that the Land Divestment Advisory Committee (LDAC) is to be enshrined in statute. “I will shortly take the Bill to amend the Crown Property Vesting Act to the legislative committee of Cabinet and hope to have it tabled in the House as early thereafter as possible,” he said,...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, has given the assurance that the proposed Climate Change Department will be fully implemented by the end of the year. Speaking in the House of Representatives on Tuesday (July 24) during his contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate, Mr. Pickersgill said the department will help to drive coordination and...

Minister  of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, says the workshop being convened in Kingston from July 26 to 27, should result in the development  of a comprehensive Climate Change policy framework and road map by year end. The Minister said it should also identify existing gaps that need to be addressed immediately. The workshop, which is...

The Government has received a US$2.1 million in grant funding from the Korea Overseas International Corporation Agency (KOICA), which will be used to facilitate the delivery of land surveys for at least 1,000 needy households in St. Mary, St. Ann and Portland. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill made the disclosure on July 24, in...

The Government is working to build a National Spatial Data Infrastructure for Jamaica.  This was disclosed by Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, during his contribution to the 2012/13 Sectoral Debate in the House of Representatives on July 24. "This is necessary to facilitate sectoral growth, and for us to keep up with technological advancements...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, has informed that the National Land Agency (NLA) is currently carrying out a revaluation exercise to update all property values, for the purpose of assessing property taxes. "The last revaluation programme was carried out in 2002/2003, so the revaluation is long overdue. The government regards this as a priority,”...

The National Land Agency (NLA) will be introducing its 'property watch' initiative as one of several measures to reduce incidences of fraud at its Land Titles Division. The service is expected to be fully operational by March 31, 2013, Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, told the House of Representatives, while making his contribution to...

The Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change intends to address the wastewater disposal system in downtown Kingston to ensure that there is no further environmental deterioration of the Kingston Harbour. Portfolio Minister, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, in his Sectoral Debate Presentation in Gordon House on July 24, said the thrust to return extensive commercial life to downtown, especially the...

The National Water Commission (NWC) is to invest billions, this year, to improve wastewater treatment facilities in several areas across the island. Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, in his Sectoral Debate Presentation in Gordon House on July 24, said the project will be undertaken in collaboration with the Global Environment Facility and the Inter-American...

The Rural Water Supply Limited and the National Water Commission (NWC) will be embarking on a major rural water supply upgrading programme.  Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, in his Sectoral Debate presentation on July 24, reported that 26 projects have been slated for implementation over a three-year period at an approximate cost of $4.04...